CALS seeks new Farm and Industry Short Course director, Cindy Fendrick named to interim role

December 20, 2017

The UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) is seeking a new director to oversee the Farm and Industry Short Course (FISC) program. FISC is a 16-week, hands-on educational program that prepares people to work in agriculture and related fields. The curriculum includes courses in soils, crops, dairy, meat animals, agricultural engineering, farm business planning, agribusiness, human relations and communications. Established in 1885, FISC is the oldest continuously-running program of its kind.

The director is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of the program, ranging from marketing, recruitment and admissions, to academic policies, budgeting and strategic planning.

During the search for a permanent director, Cindy Fendrick will serve as interim director of the program. She took the reins from Jessie Potterton, who led FISC for four years.

Fendrick joined CALS in 2013 as a student services coordinator in the Office of Academic Affairs’ Transitional Advising and Outreach Services unit. Prior to that, she had thirteen years of experience in academic advising, student organizational advising and residence life. Fendrick was recently appointed assistant director of FISC after holding that position in an interim capacity for a year.

Potterton resigned from FISC in December 2017 to take advantage of a professional opportunity outside of the university. During her four years as FISC director, Potterton led a successful effort to get FISC courses approved as official, credit-earning UW-Madison courses. She formed a FISC recruitment committee and took students on the inaugural Wisconsin Experience Tour, a tour of farms in the state.

“We have spent the last several years ensuring that FISC is in a good position for growth and is responsive to the 21st century needs of Wisconsin agriculture,” says CALS Dean Kate VandenBosch. “I am strongly committed to the future of the program which is important not just for CALS, but also for our students and the state.”